Regional Medical Director

We have an exciting medical leadership opportunity for a highly experienced veterinarian with a client centric attitude to join a team in Southern California as Regional Medical Director.

The Regional Medical Director (RMD) will be responsible for guiding the medical direction of both GP/ER and Specialty hospitals in a defined group. The bulk of the RMD’s time is spent traveling to the various hospital locations and working with their hospital medical teams. 25% overnight travel can be expected.

This position will oversee hospitals throughout Southern California—from the Central Coast down to San Diego.

If you have been thinking about shifting gears from full-time clinical practice to a more global role in leadership, mentoring, and medical education, this could represent the opportunity you have been looking for.

Candidates must have a passion for veterinary medicine and the desire to continuously improve the quality of medical care delivered in their hospitals. The RMD is an integral part of the regional management team, which includes a Group Vice President, Regional Operations Directors, and a Senior Recruiter.

Key qualifications include board certification, excellent communication skills & sense of humor, self-motivation and experience in training veterinarians in either a private practice or academic environment. Organizational skills and the ability to work in collaboration with others is a must. This is an opportunity to positively impact medical quality and patient care in multiple locations, through mentorship and education.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Fosters a professional learning environment and enjoys being a medical mentor and coach for veterinarians.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills.
• Sound medical reasoning skills and strong medical ethics.
• Ability to analyze and utilize reports and data to affect change in a hospital environment.
• Good communication skills, both written and oral, including proficiency in public speaking.
• Ability to plan, organize and effectively present ideas and concepts to individuals and groups.
• Ability to take information obtained from clients, staff, and other sources, discern that which is credible, and assess the hospital and/or a situation objectively.
• Ability to multi-task and deal with high levels of stress in an environment of changing priorities.
• Ability to initiate and coordinate the smooth integration of new doctors during acquisitions.
• Ability to initiate and integrate a training program that increases the level of medical expertise and range of services practiced by the region’s doctors.

Education and Experience:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent from an accredited university.
• Specialty Board Certification may be required if supervising specialty practices.
• License to practice veterinary medicine in each state of assigned hospitals is preferred.
• Should have a minimum of 5 years practice experience.

Duties:

Standards of Medical Practice:

• Ensure that current medical thinking as well as best practices in patient care are followed by the medical teams in the region.
• Spend time in each hospital in the designated region to observe medical activities and coach the medical teams both individually and in groups.
• Use available reports, medical records, and on site observation to review and improve the quality of diagnostic and treatment skills practiced by each individual doctor, and take definitive action when these skills are sub-standard to improve the level of care delivered.
• Evaluate medical equipment, and take needed steps to maximize usage as appropriate.
• Oversee that clients are receiving high quality medical care for their pets at all hospitals within the region.

Case Management:

• Review medical records regularly during hospital visits. Use as a tool to promote medical excellence, proper case management, and business ethics. Ensure records are legible and accurate.
• Demonstrate to veterinarians the recommended methods in standards of customer service, including timely and effective client communications, client compliance skills, and proper case follow up.
• Manage veterinary board and client complaints that are medically based from notification through resolution.
• Mentor medical directors and associates on improved methods of time management and efficiency, including the proper and efficient use of technicians.

Medical Team Training:

• Develop a strong working relationship with Medical Director and staff veterinarians for each hospital.
• Follow through on implementation and promotion of medical programs instituted by the Chief Medical Officer and the Medical Advisory Board.
• Develop programs and assist with the training of Medical Directors and staff veterinarians which might include the following:
• Client communications skills, both interpersonal and client compliance skills.
• History taking and physical examination skills.
• Preparation of differential diagnosis considerations and preliminary diagnostic work-up plan and client treatment plans.
• Inpatient and outpatient treatment regimens.
• Case review presentations at doctor staff meetings.
• Morbidity and Mortality rounds.
• Implementation of new medical policies, protocols, etc. as approved by Medical Advisory Board and Chief Medical Officer.
• Planning and conducting effective doctor meetings.
• Professional liability issues.
• Motivate Medical Directors to maintain an “owner mentality” and stimulate the associate veterinarians to consistently practice standards of medicine.
• Host or present local medical seminars (some of which can include invitations to veterinarians in the region).

Human Resources:

• Work in concert with the RPRD in the hiring of doctors for the region’s hospitals.
• Deliver, with the ROD, the evaluation of the Medical Director’s performance and set the medical goals for the coming year.
• The RMD will assist with associate doctor reviews or disciplinary action as requested by a Medical Director and ROD.

This list may be revised at any time and additional issues not listed here may be assigned as needed by the GVP.

The RMD should take into consideration, and may be asked for consultative input in the following areas which are the primary responsibility of the ROD:

• Human Resources
• Client Relations
• Hospital Production Management
• Hospital Financial Management
• Marketing Management
• Physical Plant Maintenance

They offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!